We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
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3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
50000 KES ($488 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My business has grown to be much more decent after I boosted using the transfers. I feel that I am now in a good place financially because I can manage to bring in a decent stock in bulk as compared to back then when I bought the stock in small quantities which was very costly and minimized my profits. Even though the business has not been doing so well due to the tough financial times witnessed in the country, I can still manage to save from my profits and assist my husband with the purchase of the household needs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
Stabilizing my business was one of my biggest dreams and I am glad that I achieved it courtesy of the transfers. I also had a plan of opening a retail shop near my current business, but it has not yet happened and I still hope that I will eventually manage to open it through the savings I am making from my current business.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I knew this was the last transfer, I pumped most of it into my business by adding more stock as a way of investing it. I also paid school fees for my children with part of it, saved some of the money in my bank account and spent the rest on household items and foodstuff.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
36800 KES ($367 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it would have been had I never received the transfer because at the moment, I do not have any fear of watching my business collapse. This is because I had been using all the money to repay the debt I had without minding to add more stock and I knew that I would close it after some time since I would run out of stock. In addition, I have always have a peace of mind since I know that I do not owe anyone because I was able to clear all the debts I had using my recent transfer. Having these debts had always disturbed my mind and was giving me sleepless nights. I would not have experienced this change in my life had it not been for GiveDirecty who came to my rescue at a time of need.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My additional goal in life that I didn't have before receiving the transfer is to open a retail shop where I will be selling clothes on wholesale. Apart from having my current clothes business, I am planning to open a retail shop in my area. I hope that it will be the first retail shop in my area as there is none at the moment. With this, I will be assured of more customers and I will not be relying on only one source of income. It will also help me meet my family's basic needs and cater for my children's education on time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a good amount from my most recent transfer to repay a debt which I had taken to start a business. I had decided to take a loan and use the money open a business since depending on casual work proved to be unfruitful since a day would sometimes end without me getting anything to do. Since I had been mostly using the profits I used to get from my business to repay the loan I had, I used the remaining amount in restocking my business by buying some new items to sell. This was the only way I had to avoid my business from collapsing since I had not added any stock since the time I opened it.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($199 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My goals are now to expand my business and to acquire a shop here in my village in Mathare 3A, that I can sell my scarfs from. I also hope to open up an Mpesa shop from this business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I was able to comfortably place my child in his new school and I also added more stock in my business. My business is now well stocked.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfers to expand my scarf business. I have sold scarfs from my house and also by delivering personally to my customers for five years now. My husband is also in business and we have four children. I started this business five years ago to assist boost my household's income, as we were already struggling financially with what my husband was making. I was out of employment as I had a young child, and I could only do business from my house at that time. I started out with two scarfs at first, and I immediately started recording profits, I then expanded this business by adding stock and it has pushed me for five years now. I have been able to provide some needs in my house, and also to cater for my own personal needs. I also spent part of the transfers to pay school fees for my children and to contribute to group funds in my group.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I was on my way to find a school for my child when the message from Give Directly came into my phone. Shortly after, the Mpesa message followed, I was very happy as I confirmed that indeed the transfers were real. I still went ahead to find a school for my child and I did not tell anyone about it. I only disclosed to my husband in the evening and we started planning on how we would spend the money.
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I will use this money to boost or invest in my current business where I do sell leso/kanga/Shuka since I will add more stock and this will bring me financial independence.
Secondly I will use this money to pay for my children school fees and I will too go for some business trainings in order to acquire new skills.
I will also use this money to pay some of my debts and loan from our group.
Describe your biggest worry.
My most troubling worry is always about rampant fire emergency in our area. My family and I have been affected severally with the latest being when we lost everything this year February. Most of these fires are caused by carelessness and power shocks and recovering from these emergencies is always hectic and costly.
I also do worry about water shortage in our area and the ever increasing cost of water in this area.
I also do worry about violence especially after every general election and Mathare is always affected greatly and people do lost lives, others injured, maimed and property destroyed.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition is to be successful in my business by expanding it and having more stalks as this will bring me good financial upkeep.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
In my usual day I do prepare my children for school especially if it's school going season and later goes to Eastleigh market to add new stock at least two times a week. I later sell them by hawking in Mukuru and Mathare areas.
While at my free time, I do relax with my family and help my children with the homework.